Evaluation of nutritional, technological, oxidative, and sensory properties of low-sodium and phosphate-free mortadellas produced with bamboo fiber, pea protein, and mushroom powder.

This study examined the effects of replacing alkaline phosphate (AP) with bamboo fiber (BF), isolated pea protein (PP), and mushroom powder (MP) on the nutritional, technological, oxidative, and sensory characteristics of low-sodium mortadellas. Results indicated that this reformulation maintained the nutritional quality of the products. Natural substitutes were more effective than AP in reducing water and fat exudation. This led to decreased texture profile analysis (TPA) values such as hardness, cohesiveness, gumminess, and chewiness. The reformulation reduced the L* values and increased the b* values, leading to color modifications rated from noticeable to appreciable according to the National Bureau of Standards (NBS) index. Despite minor changes in oxidative stability indicated by increased values in TBARS (from 0.19 to 0.33 mg MDA/kg), carbonyls (from 2.1 to 4.4 nmol carbonyl/mg protein), and the volatile compound profile, the sensory profile revealed a beneficial increase in salty taste, especially due to the inclusion of MP, which was enhanced by the synergy with BF and PP. In summary, the results confirmed the potential of natural alternatives to replace chemical additives in meat products. Incorporating natural antioxidants into future formulations could address the minor oxidation issues observed and enhance the applicability of this reformulation strategy.

Green technologies applied to low-NaCl fresh sausages production: Impact on oxidative stability, color formation, microbiological properties, volatile compounds, and sensory profile.

The influence of different concentrations of NaCl (2.5% and 1.75%), basic electrolyzed water (BEW), and ultrasound (US, 25 kHz, 159 W) on the quality of fresh sausages was studied. During storage at 5 °C, TBARS, pH, Eh, aw, nitrous pigments, and bacterial evolution were evaluated at three specific time intervals: 1d, 15d, and 30d. At the same time, the volatile compounds and sensory profile were specifically assessed on both the 1d and 30d. Notably, sausages with 1.75% NaCl and BEW displayed higher pH values (up to 6.30) and nitrous pigment formation, alongside reduced Eh (as low as 40.55 mV) and TBARS values (ranging from 0.016 to 0.134 mg MDA/kg sample), compared to the 2.5% NaCl variants. Protein content ranged between 13.01% and 13.75%, while lipid content was between 18.23% and 18.86%, consistent across all treatments. Psychrotrophic lactic bacteria showed a significant increase in low-NaCl sausages, ranging from 5.77 to 7.59 log CFU/g, indicative of potential preservative benefits. The sensory analysis favored the TUSBEW70 treatment for its salty flavor on the 30th day, reflecting a positive sensory acceptance. The study highlights that employing US and BEW in sausage preparation with reduced NaCl content (1.75%) maintains quality comparable to higher salt (2.5%) counterparts. These findings are crucial for meat processing, presenting a viable approach to producing healthier sausages with reduced sodium content without compromising quality, aligning with consumer health preferences and industry standards.

Elevating meat products: Unleashing novel gel techniques for enhancing lipid profiles.

Rising health concerns and the diet-health link drive demand for healthier foods, prompting meat manufacturers to reformulate traditional products. These manufacturers have reduced fat content to enhance nutritional quality, which is essential for maintaining desired product features. As a result, numerous strategies have emerged over recent decades to decrease fat and enhance the lipid profiles of meat products. Among these strategies, using hydrocolloids, emulsification, encapsulation, or gelation of oils to produce fat substitutes stands out. Using gels allows fat replacers with characteristics similar to animal fat (similar rheological, physical, or appearance properties) but with a much healthier lipid profile (by incorporating highly unsaturated oils). Therefore, this manuscript aims to comprehensively describe the main fat replacers used to prepare meat products. In addition, an in-depth review of the latest studies (2022-2023) that use novel gels to reform meat products has been made, indicating in each case the implications that the reformulation produces at a physicochemical, nutritional, and sensory level. Given the reported results, it seems clear that the strategy of using bigels or emulgels is very promising and allows obtaining nutritionally highly improved meat products without affecting their sensory or physicochemical properties. However, the best conditions to obtain a novel gel suitable for use as a fat substitute for each meat product still need to be studied and correctly defined. Moreover, these advancements can pave the way for more extensive studies on using novel gel techniques in other food industries, expanding their applicability and leading to healthier consumer options across various food categories.

Effect of Transglutaminase Treatment on the Structure and Sensory Properties of Rice- or Soy-Based Hybrid Sausages.

Partial substitution of meat with non-protein sources in hybrid meat products generally leads to a decrease in texture attributes and, consequently, in sensory acceptance. In this study, we investigated the effects of transglutaminase (TG) at two concentrations (0.25% and 0.5%) on the physicochemical, textural, and sensory properties of hybrid sausages formulated with concentrated soy or rice proteins. TG caused a reduction in the heat treatment yield of hybrid sausages, particularly those made with rice protein. pH and color parameters were marginally affected by TG addition. Texture parameters increased substantially with TG, although escalating the TG level from 0.25% to 0.5% did not result in a proportional improvement in texture parameters; in fact, for rice-based hybrid sausages, no difference was achieved for all attributes, while only cohesiveness and chewiness were improved for soy-based ones. TG enhanced the sensory attributes of soy-based hybrid sausages to a level comparable to control meat emulsion, as evidenced by ordinate preference score and projective mapping. Our findings suggest that TG is a viable strategy for enhancing texture and sensory parameters in hybrid sausages, particularly for plant proteins that exhibit greater compatibility with the meat matrix.

Hydrogelled emulsion from linseed oil and pea protein as a strategy to produce healthier pork burgers with high technological and sensory quality.

Hydrogelled emulsions (HEs) produced with linseed oil and different levels of pea protein (PP) (0, 5, 10, 15, and 20%) were used to replace 50% of animal fat in burgers. The effect of this lipid reformulation on the nutritional, technological, oxidative, microbiological, and sensory quality of the burgers was evaluated during their refrigerated storage (4 °C for 12 days). The reformulated burgers displayed a reduction of >40% in fat and an increase of up to 10% in protein content. Lipid reformulation also increased the PUFA/SFA ratio and reduced the n-6/n-3 PUFAs ratio and the atherogenicity and thrombogenicity indices of the lipid fraction of the burgers. Including 5 and 10% of PP in the HEs made it possible to obtain burgers of high technological quality and with a sensory profile similar to full-fat products. PP was also efficient in reducing the increase in the lipid oxidation caused by the enrichment with n-3 PUFAs.

Jabuticaba peel extract and nisin: A promising combination for reducing sodium nitrite in Bologna-type sausages.

This study investigated the effect of a 50% reduction in sodium nitrite and the addition of nisin (200 mg/kg) and different concentrations (0, 0.5%, 0.75%, and 1%) of jabuticaba peel extract (JPE) on the main attributes affected by this chemical additive in Bologna-type sausages. The modified treatments showed approximately 50% lower residual nitrite than the control throughout the storage (60 days at 4 °C). The proposed reformulation did not affect the color (L*, a*, and b*), and the ΔE values (< 2) demonstrated high color stability during storage. Physicochemical (TBARS and volatile compounds) and sensory analyses performed to evaluate oxidative stability indicated that JPE exhibited antioxidant activity comparable to sodium nitrite. The microbiological quality of the reformulated products was similar to the control, but further studies should be conducted to assess the effect of this reformulation strategy on the growth of pathogenic microorganisms impacted by nitrite.

Replacing Animal Fat with Gels of Psyllium Fiber and Combined Linseed Oil-Psyllium Fiber in Salamis: Impacts on Technological, Nutritional, Oxidative, and Sensory Properties.

This study produced two gels: one solely using psyllium fiber (GP) and another combining this fiber with linseed oil (GL+P). Both gels replaced 15% and 30% of the animal fat content of salamis. The objective was to evaluate the impact of this lipid reformulation on the technological, nutritional, oxidative, and sensory properties of the salamis. The lipid reformulation did not alter the evolution of pH and lactic acid bacteria during processing. The addition of GL+P did not interfere with the product's drying process. However, replacing 30% of animal fat with the GP resulted in greater weight loss and a lower final Aw value. The lipid reformulation minimally affected the color of the salamis but significantly enhanced their nutritional profile. This improvement was marked by a decrease in fat content and an increase in protein. Specifically, in the samples with GL+P, there was a rise in linolenic acid content and a reduction in the n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio. Adding GP did not affect the salamis' oxidative stability and sensory profile. However, substituting 30% of the animal fat with GL+P increased the TBARS values, and volatile compounds derived from lipid oxidation hampered the products' sensory profiles. A reduction in these negative effects was observed when replacing 15% of the fat with GL+P, suggesting this to be the ideal dosage for balancing the nutritional benefits with maintaining the product's oxidative stability.

High-power ultrasound, micronized salt, and low KCl level: An effective strategy to reduce the NaCl content of Bologna-type sausages by 50.

This study evaluated the combination of high-power ultrasound (HPU), micronized salt (MS), and low KCl levels as a strategy to produce reduced sodium Bologna-type sausages. Samples with 50% NaCl reduction were produced with regular salt (RS) or MS and 0.5% KCl. The sausages were sonicated for 0 or 27 min in an ultrasonic bath (25 kHz, 60% amplitude, normal mode, 20 °C) immediately after filling. The sodium reformulation strategy was effective in compensating for the defects in the emulsion stability and texture profile caused by the NaCl reduction. Besides, the combination of HPU, MS, and KCl did not cause major impacts on the evolution of pH, Eh, and TBARS values of the sausages during storage (21 days at 4 °C). The use of MS and KCl also allowed a reduction by 50% of the NaCl content (< 42% Na; Na/K ratio: 1.2 to 1.3) of the samples without affecting the salty taste, which was enhanced by the HPU treatment.

Raspberry Extract as a Strategy to Improve the Oxidative Stability of Pork Burgers Enriched with Omega-3 Fatty Acids.

Hydrogelled emulsions (HEs) of linseed oil and pea protein (PP) were produced with four levels (0, 5, 7.5, and 10%) of raspberry extract obtained by a green extraction technique (microwave hydrodiffusion and gravity-MHG). HEs were applied in burgers to replace 50% of pork backfat content. The products' technological, nutritional, oxidative, microbiological, and sensory properties were evaluated. Besides reducing the fat level by approximately 43%, the reformulation reduced the n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio to healthy levels, decreased the diameter reduction by 30%, and increased the cooking yield by 11%. Including 7.5 and 10% of raspberry extract in the HEs decreased the oxidative defects caused by the enrichment of the burgers with omega-3 fatty acids. In addition, the raspberry extract did not cause alterations in the mesophilic aerobic count and the burgers' sensory profile.

Recent advances in the development of healthier meat products.

Meat products are an excellent source of high biological value proteins, in addition to the high content of minerals, vitamins, and bioactive compounds. However, meat products contain compounds that can cause a variety of adverse health effects and pose a serious health threat to humans. In this sense, this chapter will address recent strategies to assist in the development of healthier meat products. The main advances about the reduction of sodium and animal fat in meat products will be presented. In addition, strategies to make the lipid profile of meat products more nutritionally advantageous for human health will also be discussed. Finally, the reduction of substances of safety concern in meat products will be addressed, including phosphates, nitrites, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, heterocyclic aromatic amines, as well as products from lipid and protein oxidation.

Effect of high-power ultrasound and bamboo fiber on the technological and oxidative properties of phosphate-free meat emulsions.

The combination of high-power ultrasound (HPU) and bamboo fiber (BF) was investigated as a strategy to produce phosphate-free meat emulsions. The samples were made with the addition of 0 and 0.25% of alkaline phosphate and 0, 2.5, and 5% BF. Immediately after filling, the samples were sonicated for 0 or 27 min at normal mode, 25 kHz, 60% amplitude, and 20 °C. The samples made with BF and without phosphate showed higher emulsion stability compared to the control made with phosphate. The addition of 2.5% BF effectively compensated for the texture changes due to the absence of phosphate. HPU improved the effect of BF on the texture of meat emulsions by increasing cohesiveness. No significant impact of HPU and BF was observed on the oxidative quality of the samples. However, the instrumental assays and the sensory evaluation demonstrated that the absence of phosphate increased the lipid oxidation of the samples from the beginning of storage.

Effect of ultrasound application on the growth of S. xylosus inoculated in by-products from the poultry industry.

A wide variety of by-products are produced by the industry when animals are slaughtered. However, the proteins present in these by-products, are not being fully useable, in the elaboration of value-added products. Staphylococcus xylosus is commonly used as a starter culture in meat products subjected to ripening for a long period, as it produces proteolytic and lipolytic enzymes that improve the sensory quality of the products. Ultrasound (US) has been arousing interest in the meat industry, as it reduces processing time and also improves the technological and sensory quality of meat products. However, the stimulate effect of US on the growth of S. xylosus in by-products from the poultry industry is still unknown. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the stimulate effect of US on the growth of S. xylosus inoculated in by-products from the poultry industry. S. xylosus was inoculated (5.63 log CFU/g) in sterilized by-products from the poultry, which were then sonicated at 37 °C for 0, 15, 30, and 45 min according to the following parameters: frequencies of 130 and 35 kHz, amplitudes of 50% and 80% and normal and degas operating modes. The sonicated samples were incubated at 37 °C for 0, 24, 48, and 72 h. Soon after sonication, no stimulate effect of US was observed on the growth of S. xylosus. However, after 24 h of incubation, the samples sonicated for 15 and 30 min in normal mode, at 35 and 130 kHz, and amplitudes of 50 and 80% exhibited better stimulate effect at the growth S. xylosus counts (p < 0.01) when compared to the Control, with values of 8.23 and 7.77 log CFU/g, respectively. These results can be exploited to obtain new added-value products, having as raw material by-products from the poultry industry.

Sodium reformulation and its impact on oxidative stability and sensory quality of dry-cured rabbit legs.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the oxidative stability and sensory quality of dry-cured rabbit legs produced with a reduction or replacement of 50% of NaCl by KCl and with the addition of monosodium glutamate (MG). Oxidative stability was evaluated during 90 days of storage at 20 °C by determining pH, redox potential (Eh), and TBARS while overall liking and sensory profile were measured at the beginning of storage. The results indicated that oxidative stability of the dry-cured rabbit legs was not affected by the sodium reformulation. However, TBARS values increased about 15-fold during storage in all treatments. Dry-cured rabbit legs produced with KCl showed lower scores (P < 0.05) for the overall liking and flavor attributes as "astringent flavor", "bitter taste" and "metallic flavor". The addition of MG to products with 50% NaCl reduction provided a liking and a sensory profile similar to the product with 100% NaCl.

Low-sodium dry-cured rabbit leg: A novel meat product with healthier properties.

Dry-cured rabbit legs were produced with a 50% reduction or replacement of NaCl by KCl and with the addition of monosodium glutamate (MG). The effect of this reformulation on technological, nutritional, and sensory characteristics was evaluated. The sodium reformulation did not show a great impact on Aw, pH, weight loss, and volatile profile of the samples. The samples presented high protein (31.5 to 36.1%) and low fat contents (3.2 to 5.7%). In addition, all essential amino acids presented an amino acid score greater than 1.0. The reformulated samples showed a sodium reduction of 46.2% while the addition of KCl to the formulations provided a healthy Na/K ratio. Oleic acid was the major fatty acid (FA) (31.3% of total FA) and healthy lipid indexes were observed for all samples. Finally, the addition of MG was effective to compensate for the sensory defects caused by sodium reformulation.

Lipid oxidation and sensory characterization of Omega-3 rich buffalo burgers enriched with chlorogenic acids from the mate (Ilex paraguariensis) tree harvesting residues.

A freeze-dried extract from the bark of mate branches (BMBE) containing high chlorogenic acids (CGA) content (30 g 100 g-1) was produced. Then, chia oil was mixed with 7.5% BMBE and sonicated for 0, 10, and 20 min. Chia oil with or without the addition of BMBE was hydrogelled and used to produce buffalo burgers with 50% reduction in animal fat. CGA levels and the nutritional, oxidative, and sensory properties of the burgers were analyzed. A reduction of ~30% fat and an increase above 60% PUFA/SFA ratio was observed for the reformulated raw and cooked burgers. In addition, the Omega-6/Omega-3 PUFA ratio of the burgers decreased from 20.8 (raw) and 31.9 (cooked) to values lower than 2. The addition of BMBE enriched the burgers with CGA, preventing an increase in lipid oxidation caused by chia oil. The addition of BMBE-enriched hydrogelled chia oil not subjected to sonication did not affect the sensory properties of the burgers.

Effects of ultrasonic-assisted cooking on the volatile compounds, oxidative stability, and sensory quality of mortadella.

Ultrasound is a form of green technology that has been applied efficiently to improve processes in the food industry. This study evaluated the application of ultrasound to reduce the cooking time of mortadella. The volatile compounds, oxidative stability, and sensory quality of mortadella were evaluated. Four cooking conditions were used, as follows: Control, corresponding to the cooking time traditionally used in the meat industry; TUS100 and TUS50: cooking with US (25 kHz) and 50% reduction of the cooking time of Control, using 100% (462 W) and 50% (301 W) amplitude, respectively; and TWUS: cooking without the application of US and 50% reduction of the cooking time of Control. TUS100 and TUS50 showed an increase of 10.8% and 29.4%, respectively, in the total amount of terpenes on the first day of storage in relation to the Control. The presence of nonane on the 60th day only in the US-treated samples (0.22 × 106 vs 0.11 × 106 for TUS100 and TUS50, respectively) indicated that the US treatment may have induced higher oxidation in mortadella. The oxidative stability index ranged from 274 to 369 days for TUS100 and the Control, respectively. The treatments TWUS and TUS50 showed a lower sensory quality at the end of storage. On the other hand, TUS100 presented sensory quality similar to the Control, demonstrating that ultrasonic-assisted cooking using a 100% amplitude is an alternative to reduce the cooking time without affecting the product quality.

Ultrasound and low-levels of NaCl replacers: A successful combination to produce low-phosphate and low-sodium meat emulsions.

Meat emulsions were made with 50% of phosphate level commonly used in the meat industry, and 0, 25, and 50% NaCl reduction. In addition, salt replacers (KCl, CaCl2, or MgCl2) were used in the formulations with 25 and 50% salt reduction, corresponding to 10 and 20% of the total amount of salts added, respectively. After embedding in casings, the samples were sonicated (25 kHz and 230 W) in an ultrasonic bath (US) at 20 °C for 0, 18, and 27 min. The addition of CaCl2 or MgCl2 impaired (P < .05) the technological properties of the low-sodium samples. Defects caused by NaCl reduction were not eliminated by 18-min US. However, the combination of KCl and 27-min US eliminated the technological defects caused by the 50% NaCl reduction, with no major impact on lipid oxidation during storage (21 days/4 °C), as observed in the TBARS and sensory profile results. Therefore, it is possible to produce low-phosphate and low-sodium meat emulsions.

A combined approach to decrease the technological and sensory defects caused by fat and sodium reduction in Bologna-type sausages.

The effect of the addition of fructooligosaccharides, transglutaminase, disodium inosinate, and disodium guanylate on some technological and sensory parameters of low-fat and low-salt Bologna-type sausages was evaluated. In the first experiment, sausages with a 25% and 50% fat reduction containing 0, 3%, or 6% fructooligosaccharides were manufactured. Fat reduction adversely affected the emulsion stability, hardness, and sensory properties; however, the addition of 6% fructooligosaccharides reduced the loss of quality associated with a lower fat content. In the second experiment, sausages with a 50% fat reduction containing 6% fructooligosaccharides were produced. Additionally, the salt content was reduced by 50% and transglutaminase, disodium inosinate, and disodium guanylate were added. The combination of transglutaminase (1%), disodium inosinate (0.03%), and disodium guanylate (0.03%) was efficient to supress the technological and sensory defects caused by NaCl reduction in low-fat Bologna-type sausages.

Impact of lysine and liquid smoke as flavor enhancers on the quality of low-fat Bologna-type sausages with 50% replacement of NaCl by KCl.

Low-fat Bologna-type sausages were produced with 50% of NaCl replaced by KCl and with addition of lysine and/or liquid smoke as flavor enhancers. The influence of sodium reduction on technological, physicochemical, and microbiological properties was determined. In addition, the sensory properties were evaluated using a Check all that apply questionnaire (CATA) and a consumer study. The partial replacement of NaCl by KCl did not have negative impacts on physicochemical, technological, and microbiological properties. However, the addition of KCl affected the sensory acceptance, as consumers identified by CATA questionnaire a reduction in salty taste and an increase in bitter, astringent, and metallic taste. The isolated or combined addition of lysine and liquid smoke reduced the sensory quality defects caused by the addition of KCl. Therefore, high quality low-fat Bologna-type sausages with sodium reduction close to 50% can be produced by replacing 50% NaCl by KCl and with addition of 1% lysine and/or 0.1% liquid smoke.

Effect of jabuticaba peel extract on lipid oxidation, microbial stability and sensory properties of Bologna-type sausages during refrigerated storage.

This study investigated the lipid oxidation and the microbiological and sensory quality of Bologna-type sausages produced with the addition of jabuticaba peel extract (JPE). Instrumental parameters of color (L*, a* and b*), pH, thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) values, microbiological profile, and sensory properties were determined during 35 days of storage. The addition of JPE had an effect on pH and protected the samples from color changes during storage. However, JPE had no positive effect on microbial stability during storage. Samples produced with 0.5, 0.75, and 1% JPE had significantly lower TBARS values (P<0.05) compared with the control group. The addition of up to 0.5% JPE did not affect sensory quality, but prevented the decrease of sensory acceptance during storage. Therefore, due to its antioxidant effect JPE can be used in Bologna-type sausages in order to improve the oxidative stability during the shelf life.